Disease Progression

How Diabetes Progresses

Type 2 diabetes develops over years — often decades. Each stage represents a window for intervention. Earlier is always better.

Healthy

Stage 0

Normal blood glucose. Insulin functions correctly. Lifestyle maintenance sustains this stage.

HbA1c: < 5.7%

Fasting: < 100 mg/dL

Maintain

Insulin Resistance

Early Stage

Cells begin resisting insulin. The pancreas compensates by producing more. No symptoms yet.

HbA1c: 5.7–6.0%

Fasting: 100–110 mg/dL

Fully reversible

Prediabetes

Warning Stage

Blood glucose is elevated but not yet diagnostic. High intervention opportunity.

HbA1c: 5.7–6.4%

Fasting: 100–125 mg/dL

Largely reversible

Type 2 Diabetes

Diagnosis

Chronic hyperglycemia. Beta cell function significantly impaired. Medication usually required.

HbA1c: ≥ 6.5%

Fasting: ≥ 126 mg/dL

Manageable, some remission possible

Complications

Advanced

Long-term high glucose damages kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels.

HbA1c: Uncontrolled

Fasting: Chronically elevated

Partially manageable

The window of opportunity is wide — if you act early

The first three stages are reversible or manageable with lifestyle changes alone. This is why early risk screening — like this platform provides — is so valuable.